According to the American Heart Association, there is a condition where an individual can be scared to death. Whenever someone is suddenly frightened, a blast of adrenaline shoots through their bodies. This causes your heart to rapidly pump blood in an effort to get more blood to your muscles. In extreme cases, any strong reaction can trigger fatal amounts of chemicals like adrenaline which has resulted in death in the past.
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau; and now he is [on the way] to meet you, and four hundred men are with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups, Genesis 32:6-7.
Since there wasn’t a doctor present in the passage above, Moses suggests that a blast of adrenaline began to race through Jacob’s body. When Jacob received word that his brother Esau, who previously threatened to kill him in Genesis 27:42, was approaching his family with 400 men, a spirit of fear consumed Jacob. As someone who is afraid of snakes, Jacob’s mind was likely racing, filled with images of Esau seeking revenge on his younger brother.
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection], 1 John 4:18.
If you ever find yourself crippled by a spirit of fear, one of Jesus’ disciples provides a remedy in the passage above. The apostle Paul also chimes in on this topic in 2 Timothy 1:7. Fear doesn’t come from the Lord above, James 1:17. Rather fear comes from the father of lies, John 8:44. Whenever the presence of fear seeks to evade your life, take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5. Putting this into practice will help you from becoming scared to death.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 